A Look Inside of the December Issue of Kovels Antique Trader

The December issue of Kovels Antique Trader takes you on a sentimental journey, celebrating 50 years of Hallmark Keepsake ornaments. Since 1973, Hallmark Keepsake ornaments have provided a visual representation of the things we treasure in life, immortalized each holiday season on a tree or tabletop. Through the years, the ornaments have been popular with […]

Kovels On Antiques & Collectibles Vol. 48 No. 4 – December 2021

Christmas Postcards … Meissen Porcelain … Bakelite Jewelry … Old Storage Cupboards …  Mechanical Pictures … Cool Mid-Century Design of Everyday Items … Marks on Dolls … Collector’s Gallery … Prices    

The Changing Image of Santa

Did you know Santa Claus wasn’t always so fat and jolly? He lost weight in 1931 when the Coca-Cola company decided a friendlier Santa would be better. They hired Haddon Sundblom to create a new Santa image. He was inspired by the 1822 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” but changed him from an elf […]

“Old” Toys for Christmas

Old toys are back for Christmas. They are similar, but different enough to be recognized as new. Don’t be fooled. Parents might want to extend their collections; kids just think they are familiar and are made for 2020. But nostaligia sells the toys to parents with the box label, not the toy. Look for this […]

Other Holidays

One can never tire of Christmas and Valentine’s Day, but there are other holidays, each inspiring its own range of collectibles. Today collectors look for collectibles from Halloween (candy holders, costumes, masks, decorations, jack-o-lanterns) and Easter (eggs, papier-mâché bunnies, candy containers), as well as Thanksgiving decorations, Fourth of July postcards, and hundreds of other holiday-related […]